Government approves HIF1 project in Didcot
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner has given the green light for the plans.
The government have given the go ahead for a huge road project for Didcot and the surrounding areas.
Oxfordshire County Council say the HIF1 project is vital transport infrastructure and will reduce congestion and offer more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot and its surrounding villages.
It is a 9 mile road from the A34 at Milton to the Oxford Road (B4015) near Nuneham Courtenay.
Planning permission for the project was granted by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, following a planning inspector’s report recommending that the scheme proceed to construction. The scheme was subject to a 21-day conjoined public inquiry earlier this year.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The approval of this application is fantastic news, as securing planning consent is a key milestone in proceeding with this project.
“This work is a big step towards tackling congestion in Didcot and the surrounding villages. It will transform travel in the Didcot area for current and future residents as well as commuters, reduce congestion in the surrounding villages, and improve air quality and noise levels.”
The £332 million project is fully funded. Successful discussions with government in early 2022, and again in early 2024, resulted in additional grants from Homes England. Approval was also given to underwrite up to £30m from Oxfordshire County Council’s capital budget in February 2022, while Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributed a £10m capital investment generated from Enterprise Zones’ business rates retention.
But it's not without controversy. Oxfordshire Road Actions Alliance is a community alliance and campaign group working to prioritise sustainable transport across Oxfordshire, not new roads.
They say the project would damage the green belt, and landscape, as well as the impact on locals, carbon and climate targets and the huge cost.
HIF1 Project
The development includes;
- A new dual carriageway from A34 at Milton to a new roundabout near Didcot
- A major bridge over the main Great Western rail line to Wales
- A section all along Didcot northern perimeter road
- A flyover over rail sidings close to Appleford
- A major new bridge over the Thames near Culham
- A new road – the Clifton Hampden bypass – along A415 diverting between Culham Science Center & Clifton Hampden
- Ending on the B4015 near Nuneham Courtenay (this is a B road which will struggle to take all the traffic) to connect to the A 4074 Oxford – Reading road.
Angela Raynors approval comes as Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce building of houses on green belts.
With planning consent now in place, work continues to finalise detailed designs, and confirm and appoint contractors. The decision on the statutory orders needed to secure all of the land for the scheme is awaited, but private negotiations with landowners continue to progress.
Construction is anticipated to start on site in early 2026 and last approximately two years.
Councillor Roberts added: “This project is key in providing real sustainable travel options for people in and around Didcot. It will enable more reliable journey times for buses and other vehicles and improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity.
“The investment in this infrastructure will also support more jobs in the local area in new and existing employment sites. I’m delighted that we can now progress towards construction.”
For more information about the project visit here. |newtab)